Brownie Bottom Ice Cream Cupcakes

Today my sweet little baby girl turned 3. I know, I can hardly believe it myself, but it's true. Since her brother (and I) will have a birthday later this month, we have one big party in the middle. So we just needed a small cake-type thing to have tonight for dessert. A few weeks ago, I came across this recipe on a blog (sorry, I can't remember which one. I know it wasn't the one the recipe originates from though). I knew it would be great for Pattie's birthday night celebration!
The Ingredients: (no pic, sorry!)
1 package brownie mix of your choice (13 x 9 pan size)
Ice cream flavor of your choice (I used 1 pint of Chocolate and 1 pint of Cookies & Cream)
Foil cupcake liners
Whipped cream

Prepare brownies according to package instructions. Place foil liners into muffin cups and fill with a tablespoon or two of brownie batter (I used a small cookie scoop)

Bake at 350 degrees for 6-8 minutes or until cooked through. Mine took about 11 minutes because I filled them a little more than the original recipe called for. Cool the brownies completely and put them in the freezer for about 30 minutes. When you put the brownies in the freezer, take the ice cream out to soften. After 30 minutes, use an ice cream scoop to top each brownie with a dollop of ice cream.

Place back into freezer until ready to eat. Top with whipped topping and serve!

Clay doesn't like whipped cream (I know! Whose kid is he?!)

I think she liked them!!

Owl Barf Balls

Raley and Clay have a book called Gross Out! Animals That Do Disgusting Things. It talks about different kinds of bugs and other creatures who are gross or do gross things. At the back of the book is a recipe for these treats. We thought they looked fun and it became our project for the last day of summer before school started back up. So I rounded up my sous chefs...

...and gathered The Ingredients:

1/4 cup butter
1 cup sugar
1/4 cup milk
1 tsp cocoa
1/4 cup chunky peanut butter
1 1/2 cups oats (not instant)
1/2 cup pretzel sticks (broken into small pieces to look like bones)
1/4 cup coconut flakes (fur) (optional)

Mix the butter, sugar, milk,, and cocoa in a medium saucepan.

Heat the pan on medium high and stir the mixture with a wooden spoon until smooth.

Bring to a boil for one minute.

Turn off the burner and remove pan from heat. Add the peanut butter, oats, pretzel pieces and coconut to the mixture and stir until combined.

Allow mixture to cool for 5 minutes in the pan (until it's cool enough to touch). Scoop out the mixture and drop by spoonful onto a cookie sheet lined with wax paper.

Place the cookie sheet in the refrigerator for 10 minutes.

Remove blobs from wax paper and form into balls. We made them more like an oblong shape.

Store in a container in the fridge for up to two weeks or in the freezer for up to two months for fun snacking anytime. Makes 1 to 2 dozen balls.